Compare towns
Hampton vs Stratham vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hampton | Stratham | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
7,754Lowest |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
| Stratham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.